Ok so heres the story.....
My engine spun a rod bearing in august of last year as you all know( if u dont then now u do) . Well i decided to pull the engine out in november of last year and the car has sat there ever since. Well i recently purchased a motor/ tranny/ clutch and flywheel from a member on here. Im not complaining at all about the sale because he gave me a hell of a deal. I dont want him to take this the wrong way. Well i took the head to the machine shop to get resurfaced. And that it got, the head checked out perfectly fine. Holds air pretty good and flows good(for a stock LD9 head lol). I am reusing the cometic headgasket that i had got with the combo deal and i sprayed copper headgasket spray on it to be on the safe side. The gasket did not have any flaws to it nor was it bent. I am using secret cams and a new timing chain along with a new tensioner. The engine is put into time via the instructions followed in the repair manual. Around the waterpump over the exhaust cam then intake and to the crank. Tensioner is set. I put everthing together per torque specs and the head bolts are torqued to yield. Im getting fuel, im getting spark and im getting air. Im using the MP45 i had on the car. Theres nothing wrong with it. All my sensors are hooked up and functioning properly. The car cranks and will not start. I checked compression and the only one that was somewhat good was the 3rd cylinder at 130psi. compression goes as follows.... 30-80-130-80. Now even though the compression rings very well could be shot the engine should still turn over and run, just very @!#$ty.... And im thinking about ruling out the headgasket being bad. So its either the timing is off a tooth or something else is wrong and im all out of ideas. I need help bad. I cant take this @!#$ anymore and ive contemplated selling the car. I have too much money and time into this car for it to just sit around and collect dust anymore... If anyone has any ideas please speak up because im all ears at this point. Thanks.
01' Z24 5 speed
422whp/400wtq
T4 Turbocharged
Built LD9
HP Tuners
i am having the same problem with my 2200 98 cavy. it wants to start but it wont . it turns over and starts for about 2 seconds and then shuts off. weve changed the headgasket, plugs, wires, all the sensors have been replaced, fuel pump is working properly, new fuel filter, new injectors, injector cell, new alternator, and new belt nothing seem to work
I'm sorry man, best of luck...
LE61T PTE6262 Powered 
It sounds like you're on the right path. If an engine doesn't run, check spark, fuel, air and compression. Such poor compression readings could easily cause a cold, well used engine not to start.
My first point, why are you assuming the re-used head gasket isn't the problem. Thats the first thing I thought it might be. Also, Cometic recommends you install their gaskets dry. Finally, how careful were you in torquing down the head?
I'm sorry I can't be of more help, but it sounds to me as though the bad compression is your problem. Even if something else is causing your failure to start, you will need to get the compression taken care of eventually if you want to drive this car, so I would focus on that.
And Brandon, have you done the diognostic noted above? (spark, fuel, compression, and air) Instead of throwing parts at it, you should dignose the main problem, then track it down to the specific. Just my .02
BRANDON MANSELL wrote:i am having the same problem with my 2200 98 cavy. it wants to start but it wont . it turns over and starts for about 2 seconds and then shuts off. weve changed the headgasket, plugs, wires, all the sensors have been replaced, fuel pump is working properly, new fuel filter, new injectors, injector cell, new alternator, and new belt nothing seem to work
Your car is in theft lock. Search theft lock.
To the poster. How do you know your getting fuel? Only asking because a 2.4 does not have a shrader valve. I do not think compression is the issue because it should run, or try to start. Is there no effort in starting?
FU Tuning
Theres fuel spraying into the cylinders... Theres no reason i wouldnt be getting fuel, my injectors worked fine when i took them out. and i carefully stored them with injector caps... i pulled the line going into the rail and it sprayed everywhere and the fuel pump works. its definately something mechanical. I agree with you on the compression issue, unless theres a major gap in between the block and head it should still try to start... Im thinking that somehow my exhaust cam is off a tooth and when the compression stroke comes its opening the valve and letting out pressure.i looked down in the cylinders through the spark plug holes and theres no damage to any of the pistons. Theres nothing in the cylinders either. No broken valves or anything. I have spark. Ive ran out of ideas. Im gonna try to get a video up of the engine while im cranking it so maybe that will help you guys...
01' Z24 5 speed
422whp/400wtq
T4 Turbocharged
Built LD9
HP Tuners
Publikdstrbnce wrote:Im thinking that somehow my exhaust cam is off a tooth and when the compression stroke comes its opening the valve and letting out pressure.i looked down in the cylinders through the spark plug holes and theres no damage to any of the pistons
compression would be equally low on all four cylinders. i'm thinking head gasket.
JBO Stickers! Get yours today!
Compression that low the car may not start, It will turn over faster than normal. Try and do a wet compression check, put a few drops of oil in each cylinder. Get a new headgasket and double check your timing.
Side story: I had a car at work (04 saab 9-3 2.0 ecotec) it came in and wouldn't start, found out it had low compression, did a wet compression check (put oil in the cylinders) and the compression came back up to normal. I hooked everything back up and started the car, the car ran perfect, took the spark plugs out again to check compression and it was normal still. The car came back a few times (for other stuff) and still ran perfect.
i would say head gasket because ur not supposed to use anything wet when u put it in
UPDATE: i took the timing chain cover off to double check the timing. I reset the timing chain and put it all back together. Still wouldnt start. At this point i had ran out of ideas and luckily the mechanic in the garage is nice enough to lend me his knowledge and support with this. He told me to check the valves for a bent one or check the rings. We had eliminated all other possible problems. So i took the head off about 20 minutes ago and i had checked all the valves. PERFECT. Not a problem with them and they are all sealed. He told me to put the plugs in the head and turn it upside down and put oil in the combustion chamber and let it sit over night to see if the oil leaks out. Also to do the same to the block to see if the rings are leaking. So that i did and now im just gonna wait til tomorrow to see. I ordered a new headgasket and bolts. They will be here tomorrow so im at a deadlock. I threw the Cometic gasket away. Im gonna clean the block to get the copper stuff off and if the cylinders hold the oil and so does the head then i know its the gasket. I hope its just that because i do not wanna pull the pistons out to re ring them..........
01' Z24 5 speed
422whp/400wtq
T4 Turbocharged
Built LD9
HP Tuners
Damn that sucks man.Its prob not the problem,but on my car,the coolant temp sensor plug was disconnected and the car wouldnt start.Good luck with it.
Peter
'06 Cobalt ss/sc W/G85 Package
Gm Stage II W/2.79" Pulley
K&N Drop In Filter
Custom Magnaflow Dual Exhaust
never re-use a headgasket, end of discussion.
lack of compression = no start. elementary my dear watson.
ok i got mine running turns out when we put everything back together we got the coil packs switched. but theres another problem... it runs like crap... checked all vacumme lines all are conected... any ideas
Rings are fried. No oil left in cylinders 1 and 3. 2 and 4 have oil in them but there not where i filled them to. Time to re ring the pistons...
01' Z24 5 speed
422whp/400wtq
T4 Turbocharged
Built LD9
HP Tuners
